Irvine employee fights to win title, help blood cancer victims

April 17, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Richard â€œRickyâ€ Ricardo is a candidate for Man of the Year with the Orange County/Inland Empire chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He is trying to raise $50,000 for the group. COURTESY PHOTO

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Richard â€œRickyâ€ Ricardo is running for Man of the Year on behalf of Kimie Metcalf, 7, who is the Girl of the Year with the local chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She suffers from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. COURTESY PHOTO

Richard â€œRickyâ€ Ricardo is a candidate for Man of the Year with the Orange County/Inland Empire chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He is trying to raise $50,000 for the group. COURTESY PHOTO

If you go

Ricardo is hosting a fundraising event from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 at the Centerfield Bar & Grill at 17296 Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach. There will be music, karaoke, raffles and more. Admission is a suggested donation of $15.

Years ago, Richard "Ricky" Ricardo, 33, never thought he'd donate time to an organization he had no personal ties to.

Spring forward just a few years and he's now one of 15 men and women nominated and vying for the title of Man and Woman of the Year for the Orange County/Inland Empire chapter of the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer – the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Ricardo for the last three years has volunteered his time to the society in an effort to learn more about Leukemia and Lymphoma and to raise awareness for the cause.

Ricardo, a fraud analyst for Irvine-based Hyundai Capital America, volunteers nearly 20 hours a week at the society; he raises funds for research, helps with events that include the annual walk, Light Up the Night, and has helped others campaign for their bids as Man and Woman of the Year.

Ricardo, of Cypress, must use his leadership skills through May 17 to conduct a fundraising campaign for the cancer society. If he raises more funds than his fellow male candidates, Ricardo will become Man of the Year.

Q.What piqued your interest to get involved with this society?

A. I have a couple of friends who are involved so it started where they were like, 'Hey, so can you help out?' and I was like, 'Yeah, I'll help you volunteer.' And once I really saw what was behind it as far as what the money went towards that was raised – for research and to help people fight cancer when their insurances weren't paying for it – I saw everything that they did and how much it helped and affected people who were fighting and surviving. So it really caught my interest that way and I really believed in it so I went with it and kept volunteering myself.

Q.Why do you want to be man of the year?

A. It would mean a great deal. It would show I was able to make a difference in one person's life, if not more. It would mean that I'm helping others and making a difference in the community – for those who are struggling and fighting this disease or cancers. It means that I could save somebody's life, that I'm keeping somebody alive longer.

Q.How are you campaigning and raising funds?

A. Social media is obviously a good one. I sent out about 250 newsletters, letters saying I'm running for Man of the Year and what's involved. I sent these out via regular mail. I sent out emails to about 400 people with my announcement in it and we recently have been campaigning through events, which is a whole different thing.

Q.You were nominated by a previous Woman of the Year. When you found out you were nominated, how did it feel?

A. It was an honor because I was already excited with the fact that I had helped her with her campaign, I helped her accomplish a lot. To me that was rewarding enough, and then for her to turn around and even consider me, that was a great honor. It was a great feeling because obviously I made impact enough where they think I can make a difference.

Q.As Man of the Year, what would come with that position?

A. What happens after that is you do gain that title. You are definitely still involved as far as being on the board and trying to run future events such as Light the Night and Team In Training, which is like a marathon head guild. You would also still be involved with the Man of the Year campaign every year on the board and you're still really representing the company. So just any of the events that there is anything going on with the society where you have to make an appearance where you need to raise awareness. We also have a recognition award at Angels Stadium one night. There's a lot of little media things that go on. So you're still very involved.

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